More Than Divergent

13. War Games

My body had physically died. I couldn't identify the pain from my ribs because my whole body ached. Eric had made me pay last night for being late. I almost lost my fight against Molly but thankfully my hits were now more coordinated than hers. I was currently ranked number 4 among the initiates and 6th in total.

I laid on my bed with my arm over my eyes allowing myself to rest. Dinner was the same as always. I hardly paid attention I was more concerned about eating my food and getting back to my bed. I was too lazy to get up and change into my sleeping clothes when the thundering of footsteps bursting into the dorm.

Immediately everyone reacted and stood up. Eric and Tobias walked in.

"Get up and ready to be at the tracks in 5 minutes" it was a good thing I hadn't changed I thought. We all quickly put on our shoes and ran up to the roof to catch the train. I saw Uriah with Marlene and Lynn and I walked over to them.

"Hey guys, what's going on?" I asked.

"War games" Uriah grinned. the rest of the initiates joined me.

"What is that?" Will asked.

"It's like capture the flag, but with paintball" Marlene spoke up and inched her way next to Uriah. It was subtle.

"Everyone grabbed a gun!" Eric shouted. We walked over to him and Tobias to pick up a gun.

"This doesn't look like a paintball gun." Tris said.

"No these are new" Uriah examined it. I stood behind Tobias and Eric.

"Time estimate?" Eric asked. Tobias checked his watch.

"Any minute now. How long is it going to take you to memorize the train schedule?"

"Why should I when I have you to remind me" Eric shoved Tobias's shoulder.

The train came around the tracks. We all took off. Tobias and Eric raced to the doors and Tobias was the first to open it. I had ran ahead and Eric extended his arm. I refused it and jumped onto the handle and pulled myself inside. Eric smirked as he made his way to Tobias. As soon everyone was in they explained the game. We were going to be split up in two teams and the objective was to capture the flag. One team will get off first and then the second. This was a dauntless tradition. This year they switched from paintballs to neurostim darts, that mimicked the same feeling of being shot by a bullet.

"You pick first" Tobias offered Eric.

"Theo, you're with me" without any hesitation. I popped my head up and met Tobias's eyes. He was confused and suspicious of me being his first pick. I walked over by Eric who was grinning. "Your turn Four."

"I'll take the Stiff" He gestures to Tris and one by one we were selected. Eric's team was myself. Edward, Peter, Al, Molly, Lynn, and Marlene. Tobias's had Tris, Christina, Will, Uriah, Drew and Myra. The rest of the dauntless born were split evenly. Tobias's team was off first and I stood by the door when Tobias readied himself to jump.

"Be careful" He said in a low voice and his team jumped. Eric strode over after he left.

"What did Four say to you?" Eric asked

"Nothing important" I shrugged.

"Why would he tell you anything?" Eric raised one brow.

"I don't know, that sounds like a question for him." I crossed my arms.

"Ok." he said dryly, but I knew he wasn't going to let this go. "Everyone get ready our stop is coming up." Eric walked to the edge and once we passed a grassy hill he jumped and the rest of us followed suit. We were surrounded by tall buildings and Eric held out a luminescent flag.